Method and System for Forwarding and Switching Over Protected Paths

1. A method for telecommunications, comprising the steps of: receiving a first packet through a first port; determining whether the first packet arrived over a protected path, the protected path coupled to at least the first port and a second port; if the first packet arrived over a protected path: hashing a source address of the first packet; adding a first entry into a forwarding table, the first entry comprising the source address of the packet, and an identification of the first port; and adding a second entry into the forwarding table, the second entry comprising the source address of the packet, and an identification of the second port; receiving a second packet through a third port; if the second packet arrived over a non-protected path: hashing a source address of the second packet; and adding a third entry into a forwarding table, the third entry comprising the source address of the second packet and an identification of the third port.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: receiving a third packet; hashing a destination address of the third packet; searching the forwarding table for the destination address of the third packet; and if the destination address of the third packet is found in the first entry and the second entry of the forwarding table: determining the first port associated with the first entry; determining the second port associated with the second entry; and forwarding a copy of the third packet through each of a first and second ports.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein: adding a first entry into a forwarding table comprises adding the first entry into the forwarding table at first index corresponding to a result of hashing the source address of the first packet; adding a second entry into the forwarding table comprises adding the second entry into the forwarding table at second index corresponding to a result of hashing the source address of the first packet; and searching the forwarding table for the destination address of the third packet comprises utilizing the first index and the second index.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protected path comprises a linearly protected Ethernet connection.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of: using a spanning tree protocol, determining a route for the third packet from a network source to a network destination, the route comprising travel through the protected path, the protected path comprising a first communications link and a second communications link, wherein the first communications link is coupled to the first port, and the second communications link is coupled to the second port; and wherein if first communications becomes inoperable, forwarding the third packet over the protected path without redetermining a route for the third packet from the network source to the network destination.

6. An article of manufacture comprising: a computer readable medium; and computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to: receive a first packet through a first port; determine whether the first packet arrived over a protected path, the protected path coupled to at least the first port and a second port; if the first packet arrived over a protected path: hash a source address of the first packet; add a first entry into a forwarding table, the first entry comprising the source address of the packet, and an identification of the first port; and add a second entry into the forwarding table, the second entry comprising the source address of the packet, and an identification of the second port; receive a second packet through a third port; if the second packet arrived over a non-protected path: hash a source address of the second packet; and add a third entry into a forwarding table, the third entry comprising the source address of the second packet and an identification of the third port.

7. The article of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further caused to: receive a third packet; hash a destination address of the third packet; search the forwarding table for the destination address of the third packet; and if the destination address of the third packet is found in the first entry and the second entry of the forwarding table: determine the first port associated with the first entry; determine the second port associated with the second entry; and forward a copy of the third packet through each of a first and second ports.

8. The article of claim 6 , wherein: causing the processor to add a first entry into a forwarding table comprises causing the processor to add the first entry into the forwarding table at first index corresponding to a result of hashing the source address of the first packet; causing the processor to add a second entry into the forwarding table comprises causing the processor to add the second entry into the forwarding table at second index corresponding to a result of hashing the source address of the first packet; and causing the processor to search the forwarding table for the destination address of the third packet comprises causing the processor to utilize the first index and the second index.

9. The article of claim 6 , wherein the protected path comprises a linearly protected Ethernet connection.

10. The article of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further caused to: using a spanning tree protocol, determine a route for the third packet from a network source to a network destination, the route comprising travel through the protected path, the protected path comprising a first communications link and a second communications link, wherein the first communications link is coupled to the first port, and the second communications link is coupled to the second port; and wherein if first communications becomes inoperable, forward the third packet over the protected path without redetermining a route for the third packet from the network source to the network destination.

11. A switch, the switch comprising: a forwarding table; a first port; a second port; a processor; a computer readable medium; and computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by the processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to: receive a first packet through a first port; determine whether the first packet arrived over a protected path, the protected path coupled to at least the first port and a second port; if the first packet arrived over a protected path: hash a source address of the first packet; add a first entry into a forwarding table, the first entry comprising the source address of the packet, and an identification of the first port; and add a second entry into the forwarding table, the second entry comprising the source address of the packet, and an identification of the second port; receive a second packet through a third port; if the second packet arrived over a non-protected path: hash a source address of the second packet; and add a third entry into a forwarding table, the third entry comprising the source address of the second packet and an identification of the third port.

12. The switch of claim 11 , further comprising causing the processor to: receive a third packet; hash a destination address of the third packet; search the forwarding table for the destination address of the third packet; and if the destination address of the third packet is found in the first entry and the second entry of the forwarding table: determine the first port associated with the first entry; determine the second port associated with the second entry; and forward a copy of the third packet through each of a first and second ports.

13. The switch of claim 11 , wherein: causing the processor to add a first entry into a forwarding table comprises causing the processor to add the first entry into the forwarding table at first index corresponding to a result of hashing the source address of the first packet; causing the processor to add a second entry into the forwarding table comprises causing the processor to add the second entry into the forwarding table at second index corresponding to a result of hashing the source address of the first packet; and causing the processor to search the forwarding table for the destination address of the third packet comprises causing the processor to utilize the first index and the second index.

14. The switch of claim 12 , wherein the protected path comprises a linearly protected Ethernet connection.